Monday, 30 May 2011

In The Mood - Blue & White Inspiration

Today's blog is inspired by football and more specifically, by Reading FC. Reading is my team and today, I'm off to Wembley to watch them in the playoff final. So, while I'm screaming, shouting and cheering on the boys whilst wearing my blue and white striped top, I'll leave you here to ooh, aah and swoon over some blue and white wedding ideas...

Above - a gorgeous blue and white dessert table here. I love the coconut covered marshmallows sat in the blue and white jelly beans. Dessert and sweetie tables are such fun and hooking them around a colour makes them look more 'grown up' and helps you narrow down the choices of goodies! Image - At Home With Kim Vallee

Above - lots to love in this pic with the gorgeous stationery but I am gazing rather adoringly at those pretty blue and white rosettes. A dish or basket of these for guests in lieu of floral buttonholes would look fabulous and allow you to bring in more unusual colours and patterns that you can't always do with flowers. Easy to make in advance and small versions would be fab on place cards, menus or other stationery. Image - Cheree Berry

Above - a gorgeous mix of blue containers and white flowers. This is a great way to bring blue into your floral displays and the coloured china is gorgeous. If you're planning on doing this, start hunting through junk shops, charity shops, jumble sales and antique sales for pretty containers in your colour well in advance. Image - Elizabeth Anne Designs

Above - a yummy Genoise cake covered in elegant white meringues. The delicate blue detailing is the perfect touch to this stunner of a cake. Image - Brides

Above - now you know I love striped straws and milk bottles so blue and white striped straws in milk bottles are going to be a big winner for me. I just love this - so easy to pull off and so effective when you do. Image - Green & Bloom Flowers

Above - blue and white paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling look perfect here. This is a great way to cover a less than lovely ceiling or to soften up a marquee ceiling. Stores like Ikea are great places to stock up on these lanterns and do give yourself plenty of time to set them up! Image - Styles I Love

Above - I love muscari so much and their blue colour is just heaven to me. The papery white collar here is gorgeous too and the delicate blue bow adds another layer of lovely to this bouquet. Image - Karen Bussen

Above - what a beautiful blue seating plan this is. The little blue envelopes contain cards giving the seating details and thin contrasting ribbon is then looped through the flap and is then hung from a tiny pin on the board. I love the tones of the blues and the white and dark script on the envelope fronts looks wonderful too. This is a definite DIY project. Image - Martha Stewart

Above - fabulous blue and white invitations with the striped background and the gorgeous fonts inside the scalloped frame. Such a great look. Image - Oh So Beautiful Paper

Above - a slight variation on the blue china containers above and these glass bottles and vases give a lighter, more delicate look than the opaque china. This is something you could certainly do yourself with some mix and match glassware and a variety of delicate white flowers (just watch out for your manicure when you're trimming those stalks!) Image - Samantha Luck

Above - oh so pretty! love these doily envelopes! Another DIY project and there are plenty of instructions and templates on-line. As well as using this idea of invitations, you could also use it for seating or place cards (it would love great if there was also a band of lace around the napkins too!) Image - Simple & Handmade

Above - now I love the boldness of the blue and white striped cloth here. No, it wouldn't work on lots of tables in a confined space but as an attention grabber on a welcome table, it works perfectly. Love the puffy blue balls of hydrangeas and you could so use that twiggy arrangement in the Ming style vase to hang seating cards from. Image - Stylebeat

Above - and not forgetting the boys, here's a pretty papery white ranunculus adorned with a wrap of blue ribbon as a gorgeous buttonhole. Please note how the buttonhole's attached - don't just poke them through the suit's buttonhole and let it dangle and flop around hopelessly! Pin it carefully (from behind as here if possible) and if you're not sure how to do this, speak to your florist and they'll be happy to show you. Image - The Knot